When cord-cutting first began to get popular a few years ago, the allure was pretty simple. Pay TV is insanely expensive and streaming media services are much cheaper. So, by ditching pay TV but keeping your cable or fiber optic internet service, you could use some of the $70, $80, $90, or even $100+ that you’re saving to pay for streaming services like Netflix. That has been working quite well for millions of people for years now, but things began to get slightly more complicated last year. Content owners weren’t just going to sit back and let Netflix rake in all the cash while cable TV circles the drain, so now everyone and their mother is launching a streaming service. Recent additions include Disney+,
During this chaotic period of time where big media companies are battling in a streaming media land-grab, end users have two choices. They can either compromise and just pick a few key services to subscribe to, or they can pay nearly as much as they were for cable if they want to watch it all. Those in the former camp like choose Netflix first and foremost, and then Disney+ is a no-brainer since it costs just $6.99 each month or $5.83 per month if you pay annually.
When you want to answer a question about an actor or learn more about a movie, where do you go? IMDb, of course. Now, you can head to the very same site to watch some of your favorite movies and shows. IMDb TV is an emerging streaming service that has popped up to challenge the likes of Netflix,
Now, it’s important to note that for the time being, IMDb TV is definitely not going to be anyone’s primary source of streaming content. It doesn’t have brand new content or high-profile originals like Netflix and Amazon, and it doesn’t have a massive catalog like Disney+. But IMDb TV does have a fairly good selection of free movies and TV series, and IMDb just announced several new deals that add even more popular content. Here are the highlights from the company’s announcement:
- IMDb TV has entered into a licensing agreement with Walt
Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International to add 20+ fan favorite scripted TV titles to its free streaming service over the next six months. - Every episode of “Desperate Housewives,” “My So-Called Life,” “White Collar” and “The Glades” available NOW on IMDb TV.
- Full seasons of iconic fan-favorite TV shows will be released in the coming months including “Lost,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” and “Ally McBeal.”
- IMDb TV will be the exclusive free streaming service for all episodes of “Lost” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”
- In conjunction with the 10th year anniversary of the “Lost” finale, fans will be able to stream all 121 episodes of “Lost” for free starting May 1, 2020.
- All 112 episodes of “Ally McBeal” will be available on April 1, 2020 and all 151 episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle” will be available June 1, 2020.
That’s a pretty big haul for a service that’s completely free, and there are already some solid movies and shows available on IMDb TV. Some quick examples include Guy’s Ritchie’s epic movie Snatch starring Brad Pitt and plenty more big names, Hitch, Shrek: The Final Chapter, Leverage, Kitchen Nightmares, Heroes, Stranger Than Fiction (a VERY underrated movie), Short Circuit, Chappie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 1 and 2, A Few Good Men, Lars and the Real Girl, Ace Ventura, True Romance, and plenty more. Again, these aren’t hot new movies and shows by any means, but they’re great options to watch for the first time or rewatch for free.
IMDb TV is available to stream in a web browser, in a dedicated Fire TV app, or in the main IMDb app on iOS and Android devices.